Mountain West unveils new-yet-'90s-inspired logo

Posted on: June 6, 2011 3:37 pm

Edited on: June 6, 2011 4:04 pm

Posted by Matt Norlander

There it is. Here's what the old one, the one that was in used until a few minutes ago, looked like.

That one was certainly still feasible, but this is a new era for the Mountain West, so new logos must be implemented. I believe that's an NCAA bylaw, in fact. The logo has a nickname, you know. It's true! They're calling it "The Rock" and insisting this new era of MWC athletics go by the moniker: "This is our time." It's all dipped in so much seriousness I can't help but laugh at the irony. Outside from getting Fuel to play at the presser, there isn't too much else that could've been done here to signify just how unintentionally last-decade this whole shebang turned out to be.

At today's unveiling, the new, boxy logo was described as "a very corporate look, a very simple look." Indeed it is. And utterly underwhelming. Seems many conferences are afraid to be daring and creative and forward-minded in their logo desigins. The Pac-12 is excluded from such criticism.

But this is all part of the rebranding process for the 12-year-old Mountain West, which pushes on, as it'll have a new caravan of teams in the next two years. Boise State is joining this fall, and Fresno State, Hawaii and Nevada will join the league in 2012. Meanwhile, BYU and Utah are leaving immediately, while TCU has one more year of dues to pay before it bolts for the Big East, a natural geographical fit. Here's the release about the logo and today's ceremonies, which act as the initiation into the new Mountain West regime.

"This initiative is emblematic of the evolution of our league," [league commissioner Craig] Thompson stated. "The overwhelming majority of the people we spoke to said the Mountain West is bold, feisty and highly competitive, and we strongly believe these qualities are reflected in our new brand identity and our new logo. ... Our fans were right in noting that our evolving membership and geography reflect both 'Mountain' and 'West' equally. The logo is bold, strong and balanced just like our league. We like the fact that it's instantly recognizable to fans on either side of the playing field."

In time it will be. But it's just a logo, and one that's giving me a hankering to fire up my old Compaq and play a round of Doom.

Update: Here's the amazing introduction video played from today's presser. I love seeing conferences prop themselves up like this.

Mountain West unveils new-yet-'90s-inspired logo

I'm a Mountain West fan but with the departures of BYU-TCU and Utah I think they should come up with a logo that combines them with the WAC or Conference USA just to keep the media somewhat interested.

Since: Jun 7, 2011

Posted on: June 7, 2011 10:34 pm

Mountain West unveils new-yet-'90s-inspired logo

Looks a lot like the current Dr. Who logo to me...

Since: Sep 30, 2008

Posted on: June 7, 2011 10:23 pm

Mountain West unveils new-yet-'90s-inspired logo

By the way, being a Penn State fan, I don't like the new Big Ten logo either. We call ourselves the Big Ten with 12 teams...and the Big Twelve has 10 teams. Get it right for once, college football. If you refuse to have even a small playoff, at least name your conferences right.

Since: Sep 30, 2008

Posted on: June 7, 2011 10:21 pm

Mountain West unveils new-yet-'90s-inspired logo

I am one who really loves the Mountain West games, even though I live on the East Coast. However, I have to say the old logo is much more appealing than this boring thing. What is the conference thinking? How does this show forward thinking? Some things are just better off being left alone and this is one such case. The old logo had some style and fit the conference name with the mountain design. I could have designed this new logo at home for free, but they actually paid money for it? Some design firm just made some easy cash.

Since: Jul 24, 2010

Posted on: June 7, 2011 7:45 pm

Mountain West unveils new-yet-'90s-inspired logo

HAHAHAHA....great point!

Since: Nov 10, 2006

Posted on: June 7, 2011 5:48 pm

Mountain West unveils new-yet-'90s-inspired logo

Nothing the Mountain West does will be considered absurd while the Big 10 has 12 teams and the Big 12 has 10 teams. Until that's corrected, a conference can be the "Big Weiner Conference" and still not be as stupid.

Since: Aug 19, 2006

Posted on: June 7, 2011 2:56 pm

Mountain West unveils new-yet-'90s-inspired logo

If that doesn't get them AQ status with the BCS then I don't know what will.

Since: Nov 27, 2006

Posted on: June 7, 2011 2:33 pm

Mountain West unveils new-yet-'90s-inspired logo

Manboobs, they're the same as the old colors ; )

Since: Jul 17, 2008

Posted on: June 7, 2011 11:44 am

Mountain West unveils new-yet-'90s-inspired logo

Yes you guys are right, all the new logos are STUPID! But does anyone else think the colors are the same as TCU? They trying to make them stay?